Residents living in roads which have been plunged into darkness as part of the money-saving streetlight switch-off fear crime will increase in their area.

Wokingham Borough Council is reporting most comments from residents about the switch-off of 1,000 lights are speculating crime will increase now their road is in darkness.

The council is holding a one-year trial for the scheme, in which the lights in various streets are turned off between midnight and 5.30am.

If it is successful, the council will roll out the scheme to thousands more of its 16,000 streetlights.

Councillor Keith Baker, executive member for transport and highways, said the council has received a good amount of feedback in the first few weeks of the trial.

He said: “Most of the comments tend to be around the prospect of crime, which is perfectly understandable and expected.”

Wokingham police approved the roads involved in the switch-off and say crime could actually be less likely in these places as criminals will have no light to work by.

Cllr Baker said: “Some of these people do not realise the police have signed off on each of the roads involved and, if the police tell us there are problems in any area, we can look again at involving that area.”

The lights used for the switch-off are located in a variety of parishes and towns in the borough, however certain locations, such as roundabouts and town centres, have been exempt from the trial because of safety issues.

Cllr Baker said: “We have even had people contacting us to say it is the right thing to do, with the reduction of light pollution and economy.”

The council expects to save up to £18,000 per 1,000 streetlights in taxpayers’ money a year if the scheme is taken on.

- Has the streetlight switch-off trial impacted on your home or local area?